Which term describes the beliefs and practices used to determine right and wrong in a society?

• A. Values
• B. Beliefs
• C. Culture Shock
• D. Material culture

Answer: (A)

Values are the beliefs and ideals that guide judgments about what is right and wrong in a society. They are shared understandings of what is important, desirable, or morally good, and they shape the norms that govern everyday behavior as well as the sanctions used when those norms are violated. For example, a culture that places a high value on honesty will expect people to tell the truth, and lying is treated as something disapproved or punished because it violates those valued principles. Beliefs, in contrast, are about what people think to be true about the world, not necessarily about what ought to be. Culture shock describes the disorientation that happens when encountering a culture with different norms, and material culture refers to the physical objects and artifacts a culture produces.